Prairie Magic Design

Our Success Depends on Your Success

A little bit about the gals at PMD

We’ve been blogging for a while now so thought you might like to put some faces behind the magic! If you’re ever interested in just chatting about branding, marketing, and your business, contact us. We’re happy to work with you on options that are best suited for your business!

Sue Ann Spencer
Sue Ann Spencer, Owner & Creative Director sueann@prairiemagicdesign.com

A true Kansan, Sue Ann lives and LOVES all things Kansas! She was born and raised in Wichita and can’t imagine living anywhere else, although she’s always up for a road trip!! Sue Ann’s passion for creativity and wanting to help others is what led her to establish Prairie Magic Design in 2008. Having been in the medical profession for some time, she was ready to start making “magic.” Since Prairie Magic’s inception, Sue Ann spends her time making sure her customers are pleased as punch with her work and continuing to learn more about how she can help other businesses!!

In her free time (what free time?) Sue Ann spends time with her 22 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren! The only exception is Friday “date-night” when Sue Ann and husband go out to dinner followed by a little browsing at the local bookstore!

Sue Ann’s specialty is definitely helping small- to medium-sized businesses with their branding! She has a great eye for design and has created some fab Websites. She mostly uses WordPress, but has designed sites using other platforms as well.

 

Zeda Head
Zeda Head, Graphic Designer zeda@prairiemagicdesign.com

As goes the problem with being a graphic designer, it’s hard to have just one favorite color. Instead, Zeda has palettes of favorite colors…which is highly representative of her colorful personality and amazing creativity! Zeda received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Communication from Collins College in Tempe, Arizona. One of her favorite projects is logo design as she has a true passion for helping businesses graphically tell their story!

Married with three children and two cats, let’s just say this momma’ doesn’t have a lot of spare time, but when she does, she likes to go dancing with her hubby! Also born and raised in Wichita, KS, Zeda has an appreciation for midwestern values. She believes these values are the key to maintaining both personal and professional relationships. Also, her love of laughter and her creative flair make her a great asset to have working on any project.

In addition to creating logos, Zeda has designed some B-E-A-UTIFUL wedding invitations. A hopeless romantic, this girl gives her customers exactly what they want!

Contact the gals at Prairie Magic Design for more information. 316-617-2109

Prairie Magic Design

Choosing a CMS for My Website: Where Do I Begin?

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When talking with a new customer about the development of their Website, one of the first questions they often ask is, “what platform are you going to use to build my Website?” They are often disappointed when we can not answer this question right away. The truth is there is a bit of research to be done first…

Our customers all have their own unique set of needs. Some are only looking for basic functionality and page management, while others need support for running multiple Websites. Some of them want us to be their Web support and handle all updates, while others want us to build the site and turn the reigns over to them for daily updates. All of these unique needs are taken into consideration when we are looking for the right Content Management System (CMS) for our clients.

So “what’s CMS” you say? CMS is a Web Application that allows for an easy and efficient way to create and manipulate HTML content. It basically allows for “non-tech people” to easily manage their Website with little to no knowledge of HTML and CSS or other coding.

Whether you are planning to go it alone on a site build or if you plan to hire a developer, there are some pieces of information that can help you narrow your search for the right CMS, as there are literally hundreds to choose from these days:

First, think about some key areas like managing media, customization, search feature, how many Websites you will run, and how many people will have a hand in operating your Website. Some of these needs will definitely limit your potential CMS platforms. Make a list of your criteria so that when you’re researching a particular CMS and it doesn’t meet one of your needs, you can easily cross that CMS off the list!

This comment might seem a bit silly, but make sure to choose a CMS that is aesthetically pleasing to you (or whoever will be working on your site). It does not help anyone if you do not find the site interface to be intuitive, and intuitive can be different things to different people.

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Most important, don’t go with one of the major players just because they’re one of the major CMS players. Just because they’re a massive well-known brand doesn’t mean a thing. Build your list of unique needs and use that list to guide your search…even if it means crossing off a popular platform.

WordPress is the CMS we use most often because it’s inexpensive and meets the needs of most of our customers, but we have experience building in other platforms, too. We’re often commissioned to make changes to an existing Website and we’ve never heard of the platform, but as developers we’re accustomed to find our way around the backend of almost any CMS. If you have something already in place and need help with updates, no matter the platform, contact us. Or if you’re ready to get rolling on a new site and this blog confused the heck out of you, definitely call us. You kinda’ need us.

Branding 101

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Brand – n. – kind, grade, or make, as indicated by a stamp or trademark.

It’s hard to really define what branding means. There are some marketing professionals who have been in the business for decades and they don’t even clearly understand branding. This is one reason why it’s important to consult with a branding professional when building your brand or evolving it. Asking to see examples of their past work is definitely not out of line. Your brand is a big deal and you want to trust that to someone who knows what they are doing.

Branding is about a look and feel. Branding is about a clear and consistent message. Branding is about your company’s story. For a brand to make sense and for your customers to really get your brand, all of those things need to relate to each other in a very natural and fluid way.

While we will always advocate seeing a branding professional for this, there are some things you can and should be thinking about when starting your branding mission. The following information will be a great resource to any professional you choose to work with and may save them some time (and you some money) in the end:

First, do you have a clear picture of who your target audience is? What common traits exist in your target audience? If it’s too hard to identify these commonalities, try making a persona of your perfect customer. What makes this your perfect customer?

On the flip side, how well do you know your competitors? Can you identify traits about them that you like and do not like? What works for their brand and what works against it? How are you different and should you focus on that difference in your branding?

Knowing your target audience as well as your competitors is really important as this is going to help you to identify the things that will make up your brand promise. Also, remember that a brand isn’t created overnight. It’s defined by what your customers think about your brand, not what you think about it. So, it will take time for others to learn about your brand, recognize it, and be able to identify key elements.

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Take some time to identify key words that describe or relate to your brand. Sometimes it’s good to keep a list like this in the works and whenever you have to write a description of your business or come up with some marketing copy, it will be helpful to always start with this list. It will also keep your messaging consistent.

In addition to key words, think about colors or even color palettes that are representative of what your brand stands for or even what customers you want to target.

Last, and most important, is your message. What do you want people to see, think, and feel when they hear your company name or see your logo? What do you want them to know about your business? Do you want them to know about you? Sometimes, a brand isn’t exactly what we initially expected, but if consumers are getting your message, you’re winning the branding game!

Helpful Tips:

  • Take some time to talk with current customers and ask them what THEY think your brand says, and make sure to LISTEN.
  • Brands are really built by consumers so just because you love the look and messaging, if your customers are getting mixed signals, your brand is not working for you.
  • Keep your brand for at least six months to one year. Like we mentioned earlier, a brand isn’t born overnight so it will take time for your customers to remember it.

It’s Time to be “Responsive”

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In our last blog about Web designs trends for 2015, we mentioned the importance of having a responsive Website. Since then we have had a couple of people inquire about what responsive really means and how to accomplish this.

Responsive Web Design (RWD) is a Website design that is optimally displayed regardless of the platform/device being used. A few years ago, before Websites were built with RWD in mind, it was difficult to view most Websites on mobile devices. As Smartphones became more popular, companies were searching for ways to make sure their site could be viewed from anywhere. This led to the creation of RWD. Now it’s a staple and without RWD, you’re probably missing out on sales.

The nice thing about RWD is that if you’re starting from scratch with your Website or even redesigning it, it’s super easy to build your site using RWD from the start. In fact, if you’re using one of the many Content Management Systems (CMS) that most small- to medium-sized businesses are using, there is a pretty high chance the template you’re using is already setup to be responsive. WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are just a few of the many systems that offer plenty of responsive templates. If you’re planning to build a site from scratch, it might be a little more difficult, but still not impossible.

If you’re happy with your overall Website and you just want to make it responsive, this is where things get a little more difficult. Chances are if your site is not optimized for mobile, you’re not using a template that is already setup to be responsive, or your site just wasn’t built with this design in mind. Adding in the responsive code just isn’t as easy as one might think and can be costly. If you’re planning a site overhaul for 2016, you might actually be better off waiting to make your site responsive at that point as it will save you some money (but at least look into the costs now). On the flip side, if you’re having a Web Builder create your site from scratch, they sometimes give you two quotes: one will include responsive in the first round and the other quote is in case you want to save money now and add the responsive on at a later date. Just have them make the site responsive in the first go-round. More money upfront? Yes. But you will actually save a significant amount of money by doing this.

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If your Web Builder is using one of the CMS mentioned above (and some others) to create your site, chances are they can choose a template that will automatically generate a responsive design and it won’t cost you anything additional. But it’s still worth asking about upfront.

There are two Website trends that we are starting to see a lot of and it’s due, in large part, to RWD. One we mentioned in our design trends for 2015 and that is simplification. Because more people are starting to view Websites on their mobile devices, they are getting used to simple, straight-forward content. No fluff. No add-ons. They just want the message. Because of this, more companies are creating their marketing materials and Websites with much more streamlined content.

The second thing that we’re seeing a lot of is Off-canvas Navigation, or Hidden Menus. Showing a menu on a Website on a mobile device can take up a lot of space, so developers started using the three horizontally stacked lines at a top corner to let the user know more information exists if you touch that icon. This has been a welcomed addition to the design world and more designers are now using something similar for Websites being viewed on desktops as well.

If you’re not sure how to proceed on making your site responsive, contact us. We’d love to look at and evaluate your current site and provide you with more information on what your next steps should be.

Web Design Trends for 2015

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Every year we all see new trends in fashion and home decor all over the Internet and TV. We designers also notice trends in general design, and we look for how those fashion and home decor trends will eventually lend itself to different types of graphic design.

As a Website designer, I like to do some research each year on what I see changing in Website design. Not only does this help us to stay on trend with our graphics, but it also keeps us learning about the newest technologies available for our clients.

We strive to make our Websites user friendly for both our clients’ customers as well as for our clients. If our clients better understand how all the components of their Website come together, they are more apt to make their own updates…or at least they’re able to understand what’s possible (and what’s not possible) with the Content Management System and design they’ve chosen.

We thought we’d put together a quick summary of our research that may help you this year when starting or updating your Web presence. Not sure where to begin, contact us. We’re happy to help!

 

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1. Simplicity

Design is not always about filling every nook and cranny of a space. In fact, the white space is as important as the designed space in helping to get a message across. At PMD, we like good design, but our focus is design for marketing so we’re always focused on what helps sell our client’s message.

With the so many outlets for advertising these days, a company’s Website is the best location to tell their story and explain what they offer. In 2015, we’re seeing more companies focus on sharing that story, interacting with their customers, and being more direct about the aforementioned. Companies of all sizes are finding that their customers want information that is to the point…less superficial fluff, more real stuff!

 

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2. Responsive

This is it. 2015 is the year that users will officially cross that imaginary line of doing more browsing on their mobile devices than on their computers! I know you can already see where this is going so I’ll keep it short…either have a mobile-friendly site in 2015 or don’t have a site at all! OK, that might be a little exaggerated, but seriously. If your current Website doesn’t have a responsive site to correspond, call us. You need to get your rear in gear this year!

 

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3. High-quality photos & videos

Until recently, a lot of small companies have just been “getting by” with the pictures and videos taken on their Smartphones. While this is better than having no visual to accompany a brand, the explosion of stock photography and video-editing software is really stepping up everyone’s game. Small businesses can no longer make the claim that they’re small and don’t have the budget. With more people finding ways to do this, it’s good to find a few simple images that you can invest in or even have some photography done. You can reuse these images for a while until you’ve run them into the ground and it’s time for something new. Trust us, it’s better to have an overused high-quality photo in the marketing materials than to have 100 bad photos taken with your cell phone (unless it’s for Facebook…and that’s a whole other blog for a different day).

 

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4. More scroll. Less click.

Do you have any sites that you frequent and notice that they are becoming long(er)? Well, there has been a definite trend to move toward more scrolling and less clicking. In fact, you can find multiple topics covered on one single page. Apple has had a site like this for a long time…guess we all took a while to catch on!
You’ll also notice that because of this a lot of menus are hidden now. If you mouse over the menu it will appear, and if you select a menu item, it will jump you directly to an anchor link where you can find your information, but you’re still on the same page where you found the menu. Guess it works hand-in-hand with that simplicity thing!

 

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5. Overall more professionalism

A few years ago not many small companies had Websites. We’ve seen that steadily increase in the past five years and now it is more uncommon for a small company not to have a Website. Content Management Systems such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal (just to name a select few) have made it easy and affordable for someone who knows nothing about Websites to launch one. Now that everyone is caught up, we’re seeing a lot of businesses try to differentiate themselves and having a high-quality Website is one way they’re doing this.

The high-quality images, the direct messaging, the responsive design…these are all BIG trends for small businesses right NOW. You don’t want to miss the boat on these updates. If you do, it will be even harder to make the leap into the new trends that start happening in 2016.

If Web design is not your area of expertise, contact us. Let us help you find ways to innovate and get more customers in 2015! It will only help you set the stage for the digital marketing trends to come.

What are some Web design trends you’re seeing? What do you think of these trends?